Exploring the World One Destination at a Time

Parrotheads party at today’s groundbreaking of Margaritaville Resort Orlando hotel

Margaritaville Resort Orlando, the highly anticipated – and highly ambitious – $750 million vacation destination along U.S. Highway 192 near Toll Road 429 in Western Osceola County, – today celebrated the groundbreaking of its 187-room hotel. More than 250 attendees, including Margaritaville executives, representatives from the development company Encore Capital Management, local dignitaries and Parrotheads attended the event.

“We expect to create 750 and 1,000 jobs on-site, so we think we’re a very big driver,’’ to the Osceola County economy, said Jim Bagley, project developer of Margaritaville Resort Orlando.

John Cohlan, chief executive officer of Margaritaville Holdings, which has destination hotels and restaurants across the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean, said guests can expect a “very immersive’’ Margaritaville-brand experience when the 300-acre property opens in late 2018. “Our goal is to make you think you’re in the islands – but you’re in the middle of Orlando.’’

The Margaritaville-branded hotel will feature many of the brand’s signature décor elements – including a giant blue flip-flop sculpture and upside-down margarita glass chandelier in the lobby. Margaritaville hotel at -branded hotel at Margaritaville Resort Orlando follows Margaritaville-branded hotels in Hollywood, Fla., and Key West.

The Margaritaville Resort Orlando also will feature a wide range of amenities, including 30,000 square feet of function space, 200,000 square feet of festive retail space, a dining and entertainment district, 12-acre waterpark, wellness center, miles of wooded fitness trails, a water taxi system, and a three-acre swimming area.

In addition, the development will have 1,000 Margaritaville-inspired units, including a mix of resort vacation homes, cottages, villas, and timeshare units.